In the end, her courage failed her. She looked into Evelyn’s eyes for a long moment, then turned towards Hays Mews. “Come on then, it’s this way to the Graingers’ place. We’ll be there in a few minutes. We shouldn’t get too cold if we walk quickly enough.”
She set off along the street, her heart crushed with disappointment but no one to blame but herself. Then she felt Evelyn’s hand on her arm, pulling her back. She turned to find Evelyn looking intently into her eyes. Evelyn’s hands were still clutching her sleeves and now her upper arms, pulling her closer, not letting her leave. She could see Evelyn’s desire, her need. The cold disappointment burnt away in a flare of hot urgency and suddenly consequences were unimportant. She took Evelyn’s face in her hands, noticing the cool smoothness of her skin, and pulled her closer. There was no fear in Evelyn’s eyes. The desire was mutual. Jos pressed closer, feeling Evelyn’s clothing rub against her own, Evelyn’s breath on her face.
Their lips met, hot and dry against the cold of the night. Jos pulled back, the electric shock of the kiss almost too much. “Evelyn, I don’t know…” She began to try to articulate in a whisper.
She was silenced by Evelyn pressing her lips back against her mouth. Jos wrapped her hand around the back of Evelyn’s neck, let her fingers slide into her soft hair. Evelyn moved her hands from Jos’s arms to her back as the kiss deepened, growing in passion. A small moan escaped Evelyn’s throat, an expression of something raw and previously unexpressed, and it spurred Jos on with further confidence. She pulled Evelyn tighter into her body.
In the shadows of the street lights, sounds of the night-time city drifting past on the cold winter breeze, Jos felt as though something long dead had rekindled inside her as Evelyn kissed her with a passion that spoke of a real hunger.
Jos eventually pulled back. “Evie, don’t go back to the Graingers’ house tonight. Come to my apartment. It’s not far from here.”
She hoped Evelyn knew what she was asking. Somehow, she seemed to. Her nodded agreement was enthusiastic and wordless. Evelyn’s eyes were shining, her breath coming quickly now, as Jos took her hand and led her through the city to her refuge.
Chapter Fifteen
Jos’s first floor flat was on Dover Street, above a jewellery shop. They walked quickly and silently, the connection of their joined hands enough to maintain the heat between them. Evelyn dared not speak, lest the spell be broken.
She was full of nerves and worry about what was about to occur but could not force herself to change the course of the night. Her desire was too strong, as was her curiosity. This was what she wanted above all else in this moment. To be with Jos, in every way that she could be with her, even though some of those ways were a mystery to her. She wanted the mystery to unravel in Jos’s hands.
The doorway at the side of the shop was narrow, as was the staircase leading to the flat above. Jos clearly did not spend as much money on her accommodation as Clara and Courtney or the Graingers. Insomuch as she could spare room in her mind to consider this, Evelyn decided it was something else in Jos’s favour. Her home was comfortable and it suited her.
The stairs opened into a sitting room, with a settee, two armchairs, and a writing desk in the corner. Jos led Evelyn into the centre of the room, switching on a lamp on a small table by the settee. The room was bathed in yellow light, warm and soft. There was no fire in the hearth and the room was chilly, but compared to the outside it was comfortable. Evelyn took off her coat and Jos laid it aside in one of the chairs, adding her own jacket to it.
Evelyn, breathing hard and very aware of the pounding of her heart, stood in the centre of the room watching Jos. Jos was looking back at her, as if deciding what she should do. There was a certain tension in Jos’s shoulders and Evelyn wondered what she was thinking. This would be much easier, she thought, if each knew what the other was thinking.
Jos approached her slowly, as if frightened she might attempt an escape. But Evelyn was going nowhere. She stood perfectly still as Jos came closer, then reached for Jos’s warm hands, pulling her closer still. Encouraged, Jos leaned in and kissed her again. Evelyn felt the power of the kiss through the whole of her body. Even her fingers and toes seemed to tingle as Jos’s lips moved against hers. Now she knew how a kiss was supposed to feel, everything felt clear, and she felt a flood of relief that she was here, now, with Jos.
Jos’s hands were caressing her back, from her hips to her hairline. Evelyn revelled in the touch, moving with Jos, crushing herself closer to her. All she could feel was the deepest longing she’d ever experienced, the most painful hunger. Only Jos could satisfy it.
Jos stopped kissing her and took half a step back. Her eyes were glassy, her breath coming hard. “Evie, are you sure about this?”
“Don’t I seem sure?” she replied, breathless herself.
“I would never do anything to hurt you. Tell me if this isn’t what you want.” Jos’s plea was clearly from her heart.
“Jos, this is what I want. More than anything.” She looked deeply into Jos’s eyes and left her in no doubt. A low sound of desire came from Jos’s throat as she pressed her mouth back against Evelyn’s in a deep, passionate kiss.
This time Evelyn pulled back. “Are you sure this is what you want?” she asked, suddenly anxious.
“Oh God, Evie, yes.” Jos tried to
